Archive for May, 2013

Welcome to the May/June edition of Australian Wildlife Secrets. This issue is our twelfth to date and it marks the end of our second year! And we are excited that this is also our first direct-to-digital edition — our early birthday present to you.

The digital edition is available for computers, tablet devices such as the iPad, and smart phones, so you can read our fabulous wildlife articles anywhere, anytime! The digital version is fantastic value and can be downloaded either from the Apple iTunes store, if you are an iPhone/iPad user, or from ilovemagazines.com.au if you would like to enjoy the magazine across all devices, including PC and iPad.

Check out our website for details.

Our print edition is still, of course, conveniently delivered direct to your door if you are a subscriber and available at all good newsagents. And speaking of subscriptions, we have a brand new competition only for our print/digital subscribers. For your chance to join a fantastic seven-day expedition in Northern Queensland, working alongside the scientists from EarthWatch, all you need to be is a subscriber (new or existing) by 30 June 2013. See page 22 for details on how to enter.

In this issue we look at some of the amazing animals that survive in the harsh, white world of Antarctica. John Cooper takes us inside his incredibly built tower to peek at a family of kestrels. And we bet you haven’t had a chimpanzee climb unexpectedly into your arms — well Fiona Mikowski did and tells about all about her amazing experiences at Ape Action Africa. There’s also some fun Secret Sightings, like romantic Green Tree frogs, plus the O’Mahoneys snap some busy creatures in their Secret Shutterbugs feature. (continue reading…)

Licthfield is roughly 100 km south-west of Darwin. The Park is generally accessible all year (sealed roads) via Batchelor. In the dry season it is also possible to get to the Park via Cox Peninsula Road, that is incidentally a great wildlife sight seeing road. Roughly 1500 km2 of sandstone habitats with several amazing waterfalls that simply are world class.

In a overnight trip to Adelaide River on the Stuart Hwy in Northern territory. We stayed at the Adelaide River Inn, in swags. The buffalo, which was a tame local in Adelaide River, made famous in the Crocodile Dundee movie, was affectionately known as Charlie and he is now deceased (2000) and is now on display at the Adelaide River Inn. The region has a colourful history originally a strong military presence was established here especially during world war 2. There is a old RAAF landing strip at Fenton and an army installation now run down. While its mostly been well covered with removal of old bottles, military items etc. Its still relatively intact with numerous buildings, for those that cannot help themselves large amounts of sheets of iron that have to be investigated! The region is super warm and tin lifting is best in the early morning. (continue reading…)

Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve is an accessible all year round wetland systems connectivity through the Adelaide River system. The Adelaide River catchment is one of several connected catchments which make up the Top End wetlands. This is the remnant of a failed attempt to grow rice. Instead the region became an internationally rtecognised bird sanctuary.

On our recent visit through the area we were unfortunately only driving through at night. From a reptile point of view its common to see a variety of reptiles and frogs at night. Often small crocodiles will be on the road during the wet season. However as amusing as crocs are we were keen to see our old friends the water pythons and keelbacks. As well as the species of frogs. (continue reading…)